Self-repairing wiper die

Abstract

This invention relates to a wiper die arrangement improvement for use on tube bending machine tools, and comprises an assembly (18) including a base member (19) that can be mounted to the tube bending machine and a wiper die insert member (20) engaged with the base whereby the insert member (20) can be longitudinally adjusted to compensate for wear or damage of the feather-edge (32 thereon) without the necessity for realignment or set up readjustment of the base member (19) to the bending machine.

We claim: 
     
       1. A wiper-die assembly for mounting on a tube bending machine comprising: a metallic base means having an outer bottom surface and configured to define a longitudinal U-shaped channel by a pair of channel sidewalls and a channel floor, said channel extending completely through the longitudinal length of said base means;   a longitudinally extending metallic insert means having an upper, lower, and pair of sidewall surfaces, said lower and sidewall surfaces of the insert means configured to slideably engage longitudinally with the sidewalls and floor of said base means channel when the insert means is located in the channel;   the upper surface of said insert means configured to form a semi-circular longitudinal channel therealong with said channel having a diametric value of no greater than the width of the base means channel;   the longitudinal length of said upper surface of said insert means being greater than that of the insert means lower and sidewall surfaces such that one end of the insert means is configured to provide a curvatured transition section that extends from the insert means lower and sidewall surfaces to termination in a sharp feather-edge substantially tangent to the semi-circular channel in the insert means upper surface;   cooperative retention means in the sidewalls of said base means channel and the sidewalls of said insert means whereby when the insert means is located within the base means channel, the insert means may be selectively slid in the channel in either longitudinal direction while restrained from an upward direction out of said first means channel;   and, a metallic adjusting means for making a relative longitudinal movement between the base means and the insert means, said adjusting means comprising an axially extending rotatable member having a threaded portion thereon nesting in a longitudinal semi-circular cutout in the channel floor surface of said base means with the threaded portion engaging a longitudinal semi-circular and threaded cutout in the lower surface of the insert means whereupon the insert means may be moved in either direction longitudinally in the base means channel upon selective rotation of said rotatable member.   
     
     
       2. A wiper-die assembly for mounting on a tube bending machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insert means is of a metallic material having softer properties than the metallic materials of said base means. 
     
     
       3. A wiper-die assembly for mounting on a tube bending machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said insert means is of an annealed wrought aluminum bronze alloy. 
     
     
       4. A wiper-die assembly for mounting on a tube bending machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said insert means is of 7075-T651 aluminum. 
     
     
       5. A wiper-die assembly for mounting on a tube bending machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base means includes an additional means adapted to permit the mounting of said base means to a tube bending machine through cooperative structure associated with the tube bending machine. 
     
     
       6. A wiper-die assembly for mounting on a tube bending machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said additional means comprises at least a pair of threaded holes located on the outer bottom surface of said base means.